Progress report: Terminating the Magnox contract by the National Audit Office. This report examines the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's management of the renegotiated contract in place with Cavendish Fluor Partnership.
From the Department for Work and Pensions The draft measures are aimed at improving saver outcomes, and supporting the economy by promoting investment in green tech and infrastructure by pension schemes. Measures to encourage pension schemes to invest in a more diverse range of long-term assets, including illiquid products such as venture capital and green infrastructure, were outlined by the Government today.
The Scottish Government has launched a Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS) with the stated aim of protecting and improving the natural environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting sustainable farming and land use. The grant forms part of the Agricultural Transformation Programme announced in February which allocated £40 million of initial funding to support the sector's contribution to meeting Scotland's climate change ambitions.
It is now more than seven months since this country left the EU on Jan 31, and since then we have been working hard to build what I am sure will be a great new future relationship. We want a thoroughgoing free-trade deal.
To mark Scotland's Climate Week for 2020, which runs from today until the 20th September, The Highland Council has organised a range of virtual events to share information and seek views from Highland residents and Council employees on climate related topics. Whilst the circumstances for Climate Week 2020 are very different to previous years, it still provides an important opportunity for organisations and communities to celebrate and showcase what they are doing to tackle climate change.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued brand new guidance designed to prevent terrorists getting access to commercial vehicles. In the last five years, changes in attack methodology has placed greater emphasis on simplicity and ease of access, meaning that - along with knives - commercial vehicles have become one of the deadliest weapons used by terrorists across Europe.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland's claims that the Internal Market Bill is a ‘break-the-glass-in-an-emergency provision’. In fact, it’s a self-destruct button that could force a no-deal Brexit, unleashing £11bn of new border tariffs, fears ParcelHero The Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland, defended the Government’s controversial Internal Market Bill on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday saying: ‘This is all about insurance planning, if you like, a break-the-glass-in-an-emergency provision.’ However, the international parcel delivery expert ParcelHero says enforcing the terms of the bill, which is being debated by MPs later today, would be pressing a self-destruct switch, not a break-the-glass emergency button.
According to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI® , the Scottish private sector returned to growth during August, with business activity rising at the quickest pace for more than six years amid the fastest uptick in new work since late-2018. The seasonally adjusted headline Royal Bank of Scotland Business Activity Index - a measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output - rose from 49.3 inJuly, to 55.8 in August, to signal the first increase in Scottish private sector output since February.
Limit on indoor household gatherings introduced in North and South Lanarkshire. Restrictions on meetings in indoor household settings are to be extended to people living in Lanarkshire, following a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the areas.
£2 million for locally-led green recovery. Island communities will benefit from a £2 million programme of locally-led green projects designed to help support their economic recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Members of the Highland Council unanimously agreed a motion by Eilean a' Cheò (Skye) ward members to seek assurances that all revenue funding regarding the purchase of Home Farm will be met by the Scottish Government. The motion states: "The Highland Council welcomes developments between HC-One and NHSH regarding the transfer of ownership to NHSH and for them to deliver care.
Package will include help with mental health. School staff will be offered new support as part of a £1.5 million funding package to help manage additional pressures as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Institute for Government web site has set out a concise explanation of the bill going through the UK parliament. Unsurprisingly the devolved parliaments don't like it.
Raphael Hogarth writing in the Institute for Government explains the legal Issues position. Sir Jonathan Jones, the permanent secretary of the Government Legal Department, is reported to have resigned over plans to undermine the Withdrawal Agreement.
Quarantine required for Hungary and La Reunion travel, while Sweden added to exemption list. Travellers from Hungary and La Reunion will be required to self-isolate at home or another specified address for 14 days on arrival in Scotland from 4am on Saturday morning (12 September).
Connecting Scotland programme funding to expand to £43 million. Organisations that work with digitally excluded families and young people in care are being encouraged to get involved with a programme aiming to get more people online.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop has written to the UK Government voicing concern at its plans for a post-Brexit internal market, saying it represents a threat to the Scottish economy. Ms Hyslop said the proposed Internal Markets Bill will jeopardise Scotland's food and drink sector, which has a world-renowned reputation for high standards and high quality products.
The Institue for Fiscal Studies broadcasts podcasts on a range of Covid related topics and the economy. The latest is on Childcare is at the top of the list today and will move down as others are added.
The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Summary Thursday 20 August - an RAF Reaper struck a Daesh command post in a cave in northern Iraq.
This article from the Institute for ~Fiscal Studies introduces a report available for download. The IFS Deaton Review was launched to understand the causes of economic and social inequalities, and their effects on societies and on our political discourse.
